CVE-2012-6561 in Elgg
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in engine/lib/views.php in Elgg before 1.8.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the view parameter to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6561 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Elgg social networking platform's core functionality. This vulnerability exists within the engine/lib/views.php file and affects versions prior to 1.8.5, making it a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this open-source social networking framework. The flaw specifically targets the view parameter processing within the index.php script, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the view parameter in the index.php endpoint, which allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that are subsequently executed by victim browsers. This represents a classic stored or reflected XSS vulnerability where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the web application's output. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could potentially deliver malicious payloads through compromised Elgg installations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the affected systems. Given that Elgg is commonly used for enterprise social networking, educational platforms, and community websites, the exploitation of this vulnerability could compromise sensitive organizational data and user privacy. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to user credentials, personal information, and potentially escalate privileges within the platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6561 require immediate patching of affected Elgg installations to version 1.8.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, enforce strict input sanitization policies, and conduct regular security audits of their Elgg installations. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary features can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues in their web applications and ensure proper security configuration management across all deployed instances.